Blog Post #4

Marxism in media is the analysis of social structures, popular beliefs, and the way that people are categorized into groups and their actions because of that. Many shows and movies will portray characters and ideas that are the norm of society that results in more people believing in whatever ideology is shown. But many times there are instances were media will break the norm and the results can change an entire belief. Shows like The Cosby Show, Will and Grace, and Modern Family are examples of breaking the ideology that people of color, homosexuals, and unconventional families cannot be successful or go through the same everyday things as the rest of society. A current example that is changing ideology is the children’s show Steven Universe.

Main character Steven is a short, chubby boy who is not afraid to cry or enjoy cuter things. Normally in media and real life boys are put down for crying and it is considered a weakness. Likewise, weight is commonly a topic of ridicule in most shows. But this is not the case for Steven. He is a generally a happy kid, who cries when he needs to and isn’t made fun of for this. He loves to eat and have snacks and that’s perfectly okay. By going against those ideologies, Steven Universe is teaching kids that it’s okay to be who you are, especially the chubbier kids who are shown as weak and unhealthy on other shows, both aimed at adults and children.